IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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1.0 


1.1 


11.25 


U^m    |25 

■tt  m  |22 

■'0    112.0 


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U    1 1.6 


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Photographic 

Sdences 

Corporation 


33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

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CIHM/ICMH 

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oo 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


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n 
n 


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Coloured  covers/ 
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Covers  damaged/ 
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10X                              14X                              18X                             22X 

26X 

30X 

2 

12X 

16X 

20X 

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28X 

32X 

tiils 
idu 
odifier 
une 
mage 


rrata 
:o 


pelure, 
1  A 


□ 


32X 


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The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  •^»-  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

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right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


1 

2 

3 

L'exemplaire  filma  fut  reproduit  grAce  A  la 
gAnArositA  de: 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 

Les  images  suivantes  ont  AtA  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  at 
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conformitA  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

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papier  est  imprimAe  sont  filmAs  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
derniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
origineux  sont  filmAs  en  commenpant  par  la 
premiAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  derniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaltra  sur  la 
derniAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  —^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE  ",  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
filmAs  A  des  taux  de  rAduction  diffArents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichA,  il  est  filmA  A  partir 
de  Tangle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  an  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nAcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mAthode. 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

^^ 


Si 


l6^-)3 


[piles, 


REMARKS 


«r 


MR,   BURT,   OF   SOUTH   CAROLINA, 

ON  THE  OREGON  Q,  JESTION*. 

Delivered  in  t/tc  House  of  JRepr^sentaiivrs  February  7.  1846. 


The  House  being  ip  Committee  of  the  Whole  on  the  state  of  the  Union, 
and  having  under  consideration  the  joint  i-esolution  to  terminate  the  con- 
vention of  1827  for  the  joint  occupancy  of  the  Oregon  territory,  and  the 
various  amendments  thereto — 

Mr.  BURT  addressed  the  committee  as  follows: 

Mr.  Ch.ihman:  It  has  been  assumed*by  those  who  have  preceded  me 
in  this  debate,  that  the  chief  inducement  to  give  the  notice  recommended 
in  the  an.mal  message  of  the  President  is,  that  it  will  contribute  to  a 
upcedy  adjustment  of  the  question  of  boundary  between  the  United  States 
and  Great  Britain.  And  it  was  insisted  by  the  gentleman  from  Alabama,  [Mr. 
Houston,]  as  an  objection  to  the  proposition  of  his'  colleague,  [Mr.  Dar- 
OAN,]  that  any  definition  of  the  hmits  of  the  country  on  tlie  northwest 
coast,  of  which  we  should  take  exclusive  possession  when  the  notice  ex- 
pires, would  enibarrass  our  negotiations;  and  we  were  admonished  by  that 
gentleman,  that  if  we  desired  a  compromise  of  this  question,  we  should 
give  the  notice. 

Sir,  I  entertain  a  different  opinion.     I  undertake  to  say  that  the  only 
reason  assigned  ^y  the  President,  and  the  only  object  to  be  accomplished 
!  by  the  notice,  is  by  terminating  the  treaty  of  jonit  occupancy,  to  enable  us 
to  take  exclusive  possession  of  this  territory. 

What  is  th""  language  of  the  President?  Does  he  not  inform  us  that,  in 
I  consideration  that  Mr.  Monroe  and  Mr.  Adams  had  each  proposed  to  the 
[government  of  Great  Britain  the  forty-ninth  parallel  of  north  latitude  as 
[the  boundary,  he  felt  constrained  to  make  another  effort  to  adjust  this  long 
mding  controversy?  That  he  had  submitted  the  offer  of  the  forty- ninth 
_  irallel,  without  the  right  to  navigate  the  Columbia  river,  which  had  been 
[tendered  by  his  predecessors,  and  that  it  had  been  rejected  ?  Sir,  his  lau* 
[guage  is: 

"The  extraordinary  and  wholly  inadmisaible  demands  of  the  British  government,  and  the  N* 
'  jection  of  the  proposition  made  in  deference  alone  to  what  had  been  done  by  my  predeccason,  and 
the  implied  obligation  which  their  acta  seemed  to  impose,  afford  satisfactory  evidence  that  no 
compromise  which  the  United  States  ought  to  accept  can  be  elTected."  "  With  this  conviction,  th« 
proposition  of  a  compromise,  which  had  been  made  and  rijected,  was,  by  my  direction,  atibae- 
quently  v^iihdrawn,  and  our  title  to  the  whAle  Or^on  territory  asserted,  and,  as  is  believed,  main* 
trined  oy  irrefragable  facts  and  orguments."  "All  attempts  at  compromise  having  failed,  it  be« 
comes  the  duty  of  Congress  to  consider  what  measures  it  may  be  proper  to  adopt  for  the  security 
and  protection  of  our  citizens  now  inhabiting,  or  who  may  liereimcr  uihabit,  Oregon,  and  for  (he 
maintenance  of  our  jn«t  title  to  that  torritory." 


K;liI;Ih4 


o 


'['lie  moasuvo^  which  ilu-  ricsklont  dooms  nocossavy  to  tho  i)vottoii(.n  oi 
ouv  citizoiis;,  now  in  Oir£joii,  or  thoso  wlio  may  lioreafter  migrate  to  tliat 
countiy,  are  sur^qcsted  in  liis  message.  They  aiv,  the  extension  oi"  our 
jurisdirtinn  niul  laws  ovt'r  tticm;  tho  ostahhshment of  Indian  agencies;  tho 
erection  of  l)l(i('lvhi.uses  and  stockade  forts  on  the  route  hetween  our  fron- 
tier settlements  on  the  Missouri  and  tlie  Iloeky  mountains;  an  adcqiiiitf 
forec  of  mountnd  riflemen  to  gnnrd  and  protect  emigrants;  and  the  (\>ifili- 
lishment  ol'  a  nionlhly  overland  mail. 

IJiU,  sir,  Iv  iidvises  us  to  give  the  noliee.  and  tells  us,  "At  the  end  of 
the  year's  notice,  slionid  Congress  think  it  projx'r  to  nuike  provision  fur 
giving  this  nulicc,  \\r  sIkiII  have  leaidied  a  jieriod  when  the  nalinnal  rights 
in  Oregon  iiui.si  either  he  ahandoned  (>r  lirmly  maintained.  That  ihry 
eamiot  he  ahiuidcmed  witln-nt  a  sacrifice  of  hoih  national  hoinn-  and  inlc- 
rost,  is  too  clear  to  iidniit  (i  a  douht." 

iSir,  can  goitlemen  read  this  earnef'l  and  emphatic,  language  of  the  Pres- 
ident, and  delude  the  country  or  themselves  with  the  heliof  that  it  is  ad- 
vi.scd  hecani-e  it  will  cmitrihute  to  the  amicithle  adjiistment  of  our  delicate 
and  perilous  relations  with  (ireat  Britain? 

I  heg  this  commilfee  to  he  reminded  that  if  Anther  negotiatii^ns  were  in 
the  eoiuemplaiinu  of  the  President,  they  can  he  conducted  only  hy  thoso 
functionaries  of  the  government  toAvhom  the  constitution  has  confided  tho 
treaty  power.  I  am  yet  to  learn  that  the  House  of  Ke))res('nlalives  have 
ever  heen  sii))posed  to  ];articij)ate^  this  i)ower  with  the  President  and  the 
.Senate.  And  [  sulmn't  to  the  committee  and  the  coimlry  that  it  is  only 
l)ecausc  ''all  at(ein])ts  at  compioniise  having  failed,"  lliis  IIou.se  can  h.' 
appealed  to  hy  the  President,  and  that  the  ajijieaj  is  made  that  we  may 
adopt  measures  for  "  the  maintenance  of  our  just  tide"'  to  the  territory  ol' 
the  Oregon,  and.  at  the  expiration  of  the  notice,  take  exclusive  possession 
of  it. 

But,  sir,  if  we  disregard  the  direct  and  explicit  language  of  llic  President, 
can  the  hmnan  mind  conceive  any  other  motive  fJir  terminatim,'  the  treaty 
of  joint  occupancy  of  this  territory  than  the  exclusion  of  (heat  I'ritaui?  It' 
the  notice  he  ::iven,  and  tiie  (juestion  of  honndary  he  still  unadjusted  when 
the  twelve  months  shall  have  elapserl,  we  shall  hav(!  no  alternative;  left  hut 
io  eject  Great  Britain  iVom  any  portion  of  the  territory,  or  suhmit  to  tho 
sacrifice  of  those  riglits  which  the  coinitry  has  heen  told  aie  '*  clear  and 
unquostioiiai)le."  (Gentlemen,  Mr.  (.'hairman,  have  discoursed  ehujuiMiily 
of  "national  honor"  in  this  dehate.  Let  me  tell  them  that  when  we  shall 
have  terminated  the  treaty  hy  which  (»reat  Britain  holds  the  joint  occujinucy 
with  us  of  this  territory,  we  will  he  a  nation  of  cravens  and  dastards  if  wc 
do  not  instantly  tear  down  ev<>ry  British  fort  and  Hag  that  shall  he  found 
uix)n  our  soil.  Sir,  he  cherishes  no  just  sentiment  of  national  honor  who 
would  tints  jiause  in  negotiate,  or  parley  to  compromise. 

Before  we  determine,  then,  to  give  the  notice  to  (ireat  Britain,  which  is 
in  itself  a  harmless  measure,  we  should  have  well  considered  whether  wc 
shall  talce  possession  of  the  entire  ten-jtory  of  Oregon,  and  if  not  of  the 
whole,  of  wdiich  portion  of  it.  If  we  intend  to  assert  our  rights  in  any 
portion  of  this  country  to  the  exclusion  of  (he  pretensions  of  England,  that 
assertion  must  he  maintained  by  the  arms  of^this  country.  The  gentle- 
man from  Massachusetts  [Mr.  Adams]  has  expressed  the  opinion  that  if, 
the  very  day  after  the  notice  should  bo  given,  we  march  in  our  troops  and 
take  possession  of  the  whole  tcrritoiy,  there  will  not  be  war.     I  did  not 


undcrsti 
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A. 


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Pivsiiloiil, 

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A    li 


understand  that  gentleman  as  assigning  any  other  reason  for  that  opinion 
than  his  belief  that  one  or  the  other  party  would  "back  out."  Sir,  the 
raloulalion  that  onr  adversary  will  "back  out,"  I  take  leave  to  think,  is 
one  that  a  prudent  man  ought  not  to  make — it  is  one  that  a  brave  man 
would  si-nni  Id  iiiakc. 

if,  Mr.  (  liainiian,  we  provide  for  giving  tbo  iiotifx- without  defining  tho 
oxteut  of  our  riglils,  the  President  I'annni,  and  1  feel  asisured  he  will  not, 
o>3iUifQ  to  niainlain  thom  wilh  all  tlic  rosnuroos  of  tlu;  gn\'criinient,  to  the 
•  utiro  territiiry  in  controversy.  And,  sir,  Avilh  this  dolibcrate  and  olleu 
repeated  tledaration — that  our  title  to  the  whole  counliy  west  (d'the  Kooky 
iniiiinlains  is  "clear  and  uiH|Uestionable" — if  we  simply  terininate  the 
joint  o(N'iip.nicy,  ho  would  find  in  onr  action  the  a])inMv;d  (d'  his  o])inions, 
and  might  well  he  detonod  from  admitting  tiial  (Jreat  iiritain  has  any  just 
prelonsions  to  aslc  a  parlilion  of  it  M'ith  us.  \'\  i-  my.'^elf,  I  do  not  hesitate 
lo  declare  that  if  I  entertained  the  opinion  as  to  our  title  expicsscd  in  lus 
inamjural  address,  and  repeated  in  his  annual  message,  1  would  exhaust 
all  the  resiiiirces  of  this  grivil  cnuutiy  holore  1  would  surrender  one  rood 
of  that  territory  on  the  demand  ol'  ;i  foreign  govennnent.  1  trust  this 
committee  will  neither  shrink  from,  n<ir  evade,  the  responsibility  which 
has  devolved  upon  us. 

At  a  recent  ])eriod  in  our  history,  .Mr.  (Chairman,  the  distinguished 
eitizen  who  was  then  chit.'f  magistrate  declared  "that  wo  should  claim 
nothing  which  is  not  (di\irly  right,  and  snl)mit  to  nothing  whie,h  is  wrong." 
it  is  a  great  and  noble  senliinent.  It  delines  the  jioinl  oi'  honor  amongst 
luuions;  and,  in  my  estimation,  the  honor  of  a  nation,  as  well  as  of  an 
indixidual,  is  inhnirely  more  coucorned  in  not  claiming  that  which  is  not 
clea'iy  right  tlian  in  snliniitfing  to  that  whieji  is  wrong.  A  strongman, 
or  a  groat  nation — a  brave  man,  or  a  brave  people — may  submit  to  wrong 
without  degradation,  hiU  they  can  never  claim  what  is  not  right  without 
dishnnnr. 

1  proceed,  Mr.  Chairman,  to  intptirc  whetb.er  we  can  imw  assert  title  to 
th..'  (Mitire  ( )regon  territory  consistently  wi^li  this  standard  (d  national  honor, 
i  do  not  p^^lp^^;e  to  enter  into  any  elaborate  and  minute  discussion  of  the 
liretensions  either  of  the  United  States  or  of  (in-at  IJriiain;  but  I  intend 
lo  siidW  iii'W  that  matter  has  been  regarded  by  our  own  governuieut,  from 
I'lic  Vi.'ar  isib  to  IS].").  And  whilst  lAVonld  s"orn  to  be<'om(,'  the  advocate 
nf  the  jmHensioiis  of  (_ Jreat  IJritain  ;igain.st  my  own  country,  I  shall  briefly 
tm;  franlily  slate  them. 

;-'ir,  in  tiial  gallant  eld  State  of  winch  I  ;un  llie  Iiuudjle-.t  c>C  ro]n'esrnfa- 
ti\es — a  State  so  much  misunderstood,  so  much  maliytuHl  in  this  hall — 
eiir  standard  of  patriotism  teacjir.s  us,  in  any  contt.'st  with  her  (i)es,  rigfit 
(ir  wrony-,  to  stand,  by  our  country.  Hut  wiiilst  no  (Jarolinian  will  ever 
ilesert  the  standard  ».d'  his  country,  even  when  wrong,  it  is  the  duty  of  a 
patriot  U*  connsol  her  to  Ijc  right. 

Our  title,  Mr.  ('hairniiin,  to  the  valley  of  the  Columbia  river,  derived 
from  discovery,  exploration,  aiid  settlement,  was  asserted  in  ISIS,  during  , 
the  administration  of  Mr.  Monroe,  belbre  we  had  ac(iuired  the  right  of  " 
Spain  to  the  country  west  of  the  Rocky  mountains.  It  was  maintained 
liy  Mr.  Calhoun  in  an  argument,  whilst  Secreuii y  of  State,  the  ii)rce  and 
clearness  of  which  our  present  distinguished  Secretary  has  said  he  would 
not  impair  by  repeating  it.  Mr.  Buchanan,  in  his  late  correspondence 
with  the  Drilish  minister,  speaks  of  this  title  as  existing  pritn'  to  the  treaty 


4 

of  Florida  in  1819,  and  indejicndently  of  its  provisions.  He  insists  thai 
it  was  perfect  and  complete,  independently  of  the  Spanish  rights  which 
we  acquired  by  that  treaty.  I  think  so,  sir.  But  our  distinguished  Sed- 
rctary  of  State,  not  content  with  a  perfect  and  complete  title,  says:  "  Our 
acquisition  of  the  riglits  oi  Spain,  then,  under  the  Florida  treaty,  whilst  it 
cannot  aftect  the  prior  title  of  the  United  States  to  the  valley  of  the  Colum- 
bia, has  rendered  it  more  clear  and  unquestionable  before  the  world." 
Now,  sir,  if  our  title  was  "  perfect  and  complete"  before  we  acquired  the 
rights  of  Spain,  and  has  been  rendered  "  more  clear  and  unquestionable'' 
by  our  treaty  w  ith  Spain,  it  surely  is  a  good  title,  and  we  ought  not  to  sur- 
render it. 

What  does  he  say  of  our  title  to  the  country  north  of  the  forty-ninth 
degree  of  latitude?  Why,  sir,  that  it  is  recorded  in  the  Florida  treaty; 
that  Sjviin  acquired  it  by  discovery,  by  the  landing  on  the  coast  of  her 
navigators,  iiom  the  41st  to  the  .'jTth  degree  of  latitude,  "on  all  of  Avhich 
occasions  they  to<jk  possession  of  the  country  in  the  name  of  their  sove- 
reign, according  to  a  jircscribisd  regulation;  celebrating  mass,  reading 
declarations  asserting  the  right  of  Spain  to  the  territory,  and  erecting 
crosses  with  inscriptions  to  commemorate  the  event."  This,  sir,  is  a  very 
fair  statement  of  the  Spanish  title.  Spain  undoubtedly  made  ver\'  early 
explorations  of  the  coast  of  the  Pacific  ocean,  and  asserted  title  to  the 
country  on  that  coast.  And  if  discovery  alone,  without  settlement,  could 
confer  title,  1  should  think  we  acquired  by  the  Florida  treaty  a  right  to 
this  territory,  which  we  ou^ht  never  to  have  consented  to  surrender  to 
Great  Britain  or  any  other  power. 

It  will  not  be  denied,  Mr.  Chairman,  that  from  Cook's  voyage  in  1778) 
to  the  convention  of  Nootka  in  1790,  (jJreat  Britain  steadily  and  earnestly 
controverted  the  exclusive  claim  of  Spain  to  the  country  on  the  northwest 
coast.  She  maintained  that  it  was  vacant  country,  in  wliich  no  nation  had 
exclusive  rights  or  exclusive  privileges.  In  1790  Mr.  Pitt  pronounced  the 
pretension  of  Spain  to  exclusive  sovereignty  "  the  most  absurd  and  exor- 
bitant that  could  well  be  imagined."  It  is  matter  of  history  that  Cireal 
Britain  in  1790  was  prepared  to  resort  to  war  in  resisting  the  pretensions 
of  Spain.  This  conflict  of  pretensions  led  to  the  convention  of  ]\'o<Uka  in 
1790.  By  tliis  convention  Spain  yielded  cA'ery  demand — admitted  every 
right  which  Great  Britain  had  asserted.  She  yielded  the  right  to  land  on 
the  coast,  to  navigate  the  waters,  to  make  settlements,  and  to  trade  with 
the  inhabitants.  How  did  these  concessions  consist  with  t!ie  claim  of 
exclusive  sovereignty  which  Spain  for  more  than  two  centuries  had  setup 
to  this  territory  ? 

But)  sir,  did  our  government,  I  beg  to  inquire,  respect  this  ancient  claim 
of  Spain  which  we  now  so  gravely  assert?  Let  the  grounds  on  which  we 
based  our  title  to  the  valley  of  the  Columbia  in  1S18,  and  on  which  we 
now  distinctly  and  emphatically  rest  that  title,  answer.  We  then  held  it 
in  contempt,  and  put  it  at  defiance.  What  was  our  appreciation  of  this 
Spanish  title  in  1823,  when  we  had  held  it  since  1819?  Why,  sir,  we  sur- 
rendered to  the  demands  of  the  Emperor  of  Russia  the  country  between 
61  degrees  of  latitude  and  54  degrefs  and  40  minutes,  which  was  covered 
— every  rood  of  it— by  tliis  Spanish  claim. 

What,  Mr.  Chairman,  had  Spain  done  from  1790  to  1819,  when  she 
transferred  to  the  United  States  her  pretensions  to  this  territory,  to  give  to 
them  deliniteness  and  validity?    {So  tax  fioi^  making  settlemcuts,  she  had 


■'A 
i 


actually 
tude  pri 
States, 
her  sov 
I  pro 
by  the 
rights  V 
but  sin 
before  t 
jx>ssess( 
l)Oiuida 
claimed 
contest( 
\ve  had 
1818  wi 
What  \ 

AUAMS' 

if  I  am 

terized 

percriti( 

who  nc 

that  coi 

the  ma 

its  stipi 

to  the  I 

lege  gu 

there  a 

other? 

which  t 

In  lb 

tory  ;  a 

:>    sole  obj 

\    What,! 

I   1818?' 

i  Adams 

I*  of  Juiu 

4  tion  of 

west  CO 

hiid  the 

of  Nov( 

ries,  sa 

tion  wi 

also  ha( 

tion." 

allowed 

she  coi 

true  COI 

Gallatii 

said,  " 

object 

could  I 

1827, I 


■;f 


t 

I 


I 


actually  abandoned  every  txadinq  tactory  north  of  the  49th  degree  ol"  lati- 
tude prior  to  the  year  1800.  F"rom  that  period  to  the  cession  to  the  Ihiitcd 
States,  not  an  act  was  done  by  «Spain  to  consiunmate  her  claims  or  assert 
her  sovereignty. 

I  proceed,  Mr.  Ghairmao.  to  inqnir^  whetlier  our  government  has  not, 
by  the  most  solemn  and  explkit  derlaratious  and  acts,  re  .oguiscd  the 
rights  which  Great  Britain  had  a^Hcrtefl  against  Spain,  not  only  Ix'fore, 
but  since  we  acqtiired  the  ri^fiii*  <'f  Spain  to  this  territory?  In  1818, 
before  the  treaty  of  Florida,  W  whi-^h  we  accjuirod  whatever  rights  Spain 
possessed,  we  proptjsed  to  moke  the  forty-ninth  parallel  of  latitude  the 
boxuidary  between  the  territory  ctairned  by  the  L'nitod  Str.tes  and  that 
claimed  by  Clreat  Britain  w*r»t  o{  thfi  Rocky  mountains.  Great  Britain 
contested  our  exclusive  claim  to  ibf^  valley  of  the  Cohimbia  river,  which 
we  had  urged,  and  declined  to  a'^r*  tie  to  our  proposition.  The  treaty  of 
1818  was  the  result  of  this  iiiiefl»wtiial  att*;iupt  to  agree;  upon  a  boundary. 
What  was  that  convention?  The  gf^ntlemaii  from  Massachusetts  [Mi. 
Adams]  the  other  day  denied  thai  it  was  a  treaty  of  joint  occnpancy.  But 
if  I  am  not  greatly  mistakejj.  tliai  seutlfinan,  at  the  last  session,  charac- 
terized it  a  treaty  of  joint  t«ocu}anrj-.  Wr  then  heard  nothing  of  the  hy- 
percriticism  of  the  chninuan  ofFdvrisn  R«>latioiis,  [Mr.  (.'.  J.  IxtiKKsoLL,] 
who  now  concurs:  witli  th*:-  OTiiidfttnan  f'rt>ni  .Massachusetts.  .Mlhough 
that  convention  Is  treated  in  all  oitr  negotiations  as  one  of  joint  occupancy, 
the  material  inquiry  is-  wliai  dmnt  it  concede  lo  (Jrcat  Britain?  Are  not 
its  stipulations  mtunal  and  jiwipurnral  ?  Fs  there  a  solitary  riglit  reserved 
to  the  United  States  tliat  in  i*(4  rtservefi  toG  (?at  Britain?  Is  there  a  privi- 
lege guarantied  to  one  jnirty.  which  is  noi  conferred  on  the  other  r  Is 
there  a  protest  as  to  the  tit^M'fK'nf^^  which  docs  notupply  to  the  title  of  the 
other?  This  convention  was  adopted  tl»r  the  period  of  ten  years,  during 
which  the  respective  rlainws  <.4  the  two  governments  were  suspended. 

In  1819,  we  acquired  all  llie  righi-i  whirfi  Spjiin  then  had  to  this  terri- 
tory ;  and  from  1823  to  IHiT  hHd  !H?gotiations  with  (ireat  Britain,  the 
sole  object  and  purjKtse  of  irhj^h  w,k.^  the  adjustment  of  the  boundary. 
What,  sir,  have  our  negotia4<j<r$  »ml  statesmen  said  of  the  convention  of 
1818?  Mr.  Clay,  Secretary  of -Sfcite  during  the  administration  of  Mr. 
Adams,  in  his  letter  to  Mr.  iidhim.  tf)e  minister  to  Jhigland,  on  the  19th 
'of  Jime,  1826,  says  :  "  It  i*  in.*i  that  the  third  article  of  the  conven- 
tion of  1818  recognises  that  <jiiK-aK  Britain  t/i'u  had  claims  on  the  north- 
west coast,  but  it  neither  df^fiiae*  iwr  ••f'trles  them,  nor  sjxjcifies  where  they 
hiid  their  origin."  Mr.  Gailaliii,  in  his  desjKitch  to  Mr.  Clay,  of  the  25tn 
of  November,  182ti,  reciting  hi*  conference  with  the  British  plenijx)tentia- 
ries,  says  :  "  But  our  never  haring  refused  to  agree  to  a  line  of  demarka- 
tion  with  Great  Britain,  was  a  Mifficient  proof  that  we  admitted  that  she 
also  had  claims  which  deserrwl,  and  to  which  we  paid  due  considera- 
tion." "  Claiming  themselres  hy  right  of  discovery  and  settlement,  they 
allowed  what  was  due  to  Great  Britain  on  the  same  account,  and  all  that 
she  could  justly  claim  under  the  Nootka  convention,  according  to  its 
true  construction."  Li  his  letter  to  Mr.  Clay,  of  the  27th  June,  1827,  Mr. 
Gallatin,  speaking  of  the  comfeuDifi^ated  renewal  of  the  convention  of  1818, 
said,  "  It  was  altogether  a  uiaittiCT  of  mutual  concern.  There  was  no  other 
object  for  it  than  that  of  presiw-ing  peace  until  a  permanent  boundary 
could  be  agreed  on."  In  his  ktter  to  Mr  Gallatin,  of  the  24th  February, 
1827,  Mr.  Clay  says  :  ^'SappouD^  Great  Britain  to  have  any  well-founded 


olaiui,  il'  l\unv.  he  (hs  ilifie  aru  bolioveil  to  bo)  no  other  )Knvers  than  the 
United  States  and  ( Jreat  Hritain  who  can  assort  riglils  of  territorial  sove- 
reignly between  42°  and  51°  lO',  then;  ean  b"  no  e(|nitaltle  division  of'tho 
intermediate  .sp.ioe  bnt  an  ((iiial  jmititinn.  .Suvli  an  eijnul  i)arlition  wonid 
assign  al)nnt  th^  parallel  of  I'.)  doi^n'oes  as  the  eoninmii  Ih  nndary.  Thu 
President  ve,^M-els  (liat  liio  Hrilish  ploiiip'li'ntiarics  have  tliiuiyht  proper  to 
declini'  tlu;  pniMosal  whi'ih  y<ui  made  dl'iliat  hue."  A  disliiiLfni.shed  .sen- 
ator, [Mr.  lli;\  iitN,]  wlio  has  ever  fidt  a  deep  interest  in  anything  wliich 
allects  the  interests  ol'th(>  west,  atlribnted,  in  lSl:i,  in  his  jjIucvj  as  a  .Sen- 
ator, to  tiie  ennveiUion  ot'  ISbS  certain  '"gr(at  I'anhs;''  auidngst  (hem  one, 
"in  assnniiiig  tlnaf  there  were  di\ers  harbors,  bays,  creolss,  and  navitiaiilo 
rivers  west  ol'liie  llorky  m()nntains,  some  holi-nging  to  Vnv  L'nited  Stales, 
and  some  to  (ireat  IJrilain;  and  that  innUiahly  of  bonelits  was  conterrod  l;y 
giving  U)  ea'di  jiarty  ai-t.-ess  to  the  waters  of  llie  otiier."  Another  was  '"in 
adniitliug  a  claim  on  the  part  of  (ireat  Ihitain  to  any  portion  of  these  t»'rri- 
tories."  I  coi,rKh-ntly  aliirni.  and  I  appeal  to  onr  negotiahons,  that  at  no 
period  of  thein  has  onr  govi  rmnciit  insisted  on  a  more  lavojable  bonndaiy 
than  the  I'.Uh  parallel  of  latitndo.     The  convention  of  I  HIS  was  renewed 

/ery  administration  to  tile  present 


>>" 


)V  e 


in  lS:d( ,  v-wd  has  Iteen  ac([niesced  in 
moment. 

Now,  [Ml.  Chairnian,  '.\hcn  it  is  not  even  alleged  that  CJ^eut  IJritain  has 
done  any  a  -t  lo  lorliMt  or  1o  impair  the  rights  which,  Jiom  1S18  tu  IbJ."), 
onr  g(>ver!i:iieiit  has  admitted  .she  jx'ssesses  in  the  ( begon  territory,  with 


"what  liice  «  an   we,  bel'orc;  heaven  and  man, 


denv  them  ' 


Sir,  as  a  just 


jjooplo — as  a  (hrisfian  nation — ■we  ra)m<;t,  wr.  dare  not. 

Sir,  as  we  h.iw  been  ielMrnied  that  no  honerahle  «'oniproinis(!  of  tliis 
ancient  contro\ersy  can  be  etfected,  and  have  heen  called  ui)on  by  the  Ex- 
ecutive to  maintain  our  just  rights  to  this  leriitory,  I  am  jtreparcd  to  lake 
my  share  tf  the  res))onsil)ihty.  .My  jndgment  has  yieldtnl  to  the  ii)rce  of 
the  argnnxiit  \vhi<di  maintains  our  title  to  the  valley  of  the  Colnndjia,  and 
I  am  jir(^)Mi';e'.i  lo  ass(;rl  and  to  enlorce  it.  I  am  unwilling  to  smrender  to 
great  Britain  Ci\r  country  belov/  the  iOth  parallel;  and  with  an  amendment 
defining  t'- U  ;i  •  the  liniil  to  wln'eh.  at  the  expiration  of  the  twM\e  mojnhs, 
W(!  shail  extend  oiu' jnvisdictien  ;iiid  exclusive  posseslL^ion,  1  am  ready  lo 
vote  I'lr  the  latiice. 

Air.  Chairmui,  I  see  on  this  iloe.r  a  gentleman  [.Mr.  A  i>  \ai.'^J  of  advanced 
age,  i'srge  exp<iie>ice,  and  i.'iejt  ;illaiinnents,  who  was  Secretary  of  State 
in  Ibl:-',  v>heii  tlic  treaty  of  joint  oecuj)an;y  was  concluded,  and  chief 
magistrate  oft  lese  Slates  iii  i  >•.'(,  when  it  wis  renev.ed.  Uf  that  gentle- 
man, I  do  not  intend  to  sjieaiv  in  terms  of  personal  dit-resju'i  t.  But,  sir, 
il  has  been  his  H)rtnne  to  bear  towards  this  (|iiestion  a  relation  the  most 
important  and  remarkable.  His  right  band  chums  the  credit  of  inserting 
in  the  Florida  treaty  the  clause  on  which  our  title  to  the  Oregon  territory 
is  based,  llf!  has  said  that  the  convention  of  i SIS  was  the  alternative  to 
instajit  \yar.  In  1^27,  Mr.  (iallatin  intiirms  our  goverinnent  that  the  only 
reason  for  tlu'  renewal  of  that  convention  ^vas  to  preserve  {xjace.  Tluit 
gentlenian  now  thinks  there  will  not  be  war,  if  we  march  in  oiu'  troops,  after 
the  notice  has  expired,  and  take  possession  of  the  wlude  country!  Until 
the  la  ;t  session  of  Congress,  he  was  not  prepared  to  agree  to  a  teinnnation 
of  th(  joint  0{  .uipancy.  Then  his  ruind  Avas  open  to  conviction  as  to  our 
title  to  a  part  of  this  territory;  now  lie  would  take  possession  of  the  whole! 
When  rrcsidcnt  of  the  United  States,  he  thonglu  an  equal  dhidon  of  it 


r  Slate 
I   cliiot' 

Jut,  .sir, 


kviili  C;i«\'it  Kiiuiiii  was  »ho  only  r-ijiuuibfo  )»;iviiiiiin,  aiul  iv-ivtiod  iJiai  Ikt 
jdeiiiiMitciitiarif's  would  not  accept  it;  now  lie  would  deny  tier  any  part  nl' 
It!  'riip--e  art'  rapid  and  remarkable  transitions.  Sir,  tl.e  country  will 
ilcmand  fil'tfiat  <.';'nll»'inan,  what  lias  produced  tliis  clian^'e  '  What  launi- 
|neiit  of  title,  what  Tad  to  elucidate  it,  that  escaped  his  research  whoi  oon- 
hictiii.'^  our  n(•^Mtialiolis  tVoni  1^1^  to  jS'i",  has  heen  disrovr'red  hy  that 
>i'Mtli'iiian  to  produce  a  chaML'e  so  sudden  and  exlraordinaiy ?  Weil  may 
111''  j)co|.le — well  may  the  civilized  world — iiKpiire,  why  this  ch;  uue,  of 
idhcy  and  pnsitidii  ? 

Mr,  Chairman,  in  considcraiiou  of  th(!  iiasl  if  not  of  the  I'uUne  -if  not 

local'-ulato  the  cost  ol'  niainlainiu!^  our  ritrlits — we  should  jiause  before  wo. 

iliniL^e  this  country  into  war.     We  should  take  counsel  of  oin*  heaits  and 

iiir  consciences,  whether  that   war  would  he  just,  and  in  a  just  cause. 

b^ir,  I  have  taken  my  position.     I   hdieve  it  maintains  th(  honor  and  the 

[iLrhts  of  my  country,  and  will  command  tiie  ap|)robalion  of  the  people. 

|l  is  ihe  comjiromise  olfered  by  (uu"  f,'overnnieut  I'rom  I>«I.S  io  JSl.";.     I  am 

liiwillinii;  to  accept  less.      1  will  not  demand  more. 

Hut,  .Mr.  ('hairnnui,  if  it  he  the  deternn'uation  of  the  conruitlee  to  lermi- 

il(>  lh(>  treaty  of  Joint  occupancy,  v.  ith  the  piu'pose  of  assTtinsr  the  ria[ht 

il'  domain  to  a  part  or  lo  the  whole  (■!'  the  territorv  of  Orcioji,  I  ti;  -t  the 

^oticc^  will  be  (Mii'lird  in  those  manly  terms  which  shall  maniii'sl  our 

use  that  it  is  a  ti'i-Iit.     'J'lie  treaty  provides  that  it  shall  he  di'tiM'mined  at 

he  expiration  ol'  iweivo  nionlhs'  notice,  and  st.>cures  to  cafli  of  the  high 

ontracliii!.!'  parlies  tlic;  riL;ht  to  t(ive  it.     'i'he   notice  nee.!.-;  no  ap'logy; 

lid  I  submit  that  it  is  unmanly  and  iinbcM-omin;,''  to  mai.e  (uie.     And  I 

Mist  he  pi  rmilted  to  say,  that  1  cannot  admiie  tla;  spirit  thai  would  whisper 

in  the  pitiful  palaver  of  a  '*  preamble,"  or  the  whinin;^  and  w!iimp(-'rinc; 

"a  "  whereas." 

Mr.  (.'hairman,  my  constituents  arc  ever  ready  to  niaintaiii  the  rights  and 
?l(Mid  the  honor  of  their  comiliy.  They  know  nothing  <  f  the  people  of 
horn  I  ainan  bumhh;,  but  I  tn;st  faithful,  repr(\>;eiitutive,  Avho  snpjiose  they 
ive  any  unmanly  l!\u'  of  war,  calamitcais  and  desolating  as  it  ever  has 
ecu  and  ever  must  he  to  their  interests.  'J'licy  appeal  to  the  histoiy  of 
|eir  country  to  bear  them  witness  that  whenever  the  gallantly  and  j  atriot- 
m  of  its  citizens  hav<!  beeji  summoned  to  iis  slandard.  i\wy  have  becu 
e  first  in  the  field  and  the  fiercest  in  the  battle. 

Sir,  the  south  does  earnestly  deprecate  war,  but  not,  as  I  have  heard 
[limated,  because  she  is  conscious  of  any  element  of  weakness  or  danger 
her  social  system.  She  fears  no  domestic  disquieUide  in  M'ar.  Hut 
ui'h  as  we  deprecate  M'ar,  more  do  we  deprecate  national  dishonor 
id  degradation.  And  if  war  come  from  maintaining  the  rights  and  tho 
mor  of  our  country,  by  the  help  of  Heaven  we  will  meet  it,  though  it 
ng  its  victims  from  every  fireside,  and  slay  thciii  on  cveiy  coast,  and  plain, 
1(1  height,  in  this  broad  confederacy. 


•'#»' 


